Pokémon Annual
Pokémon Annual is a series of hard-backed books published in the United Kingdom, with a new edition normally released each Autumn for the upcoming year. The books were published by Pedigree Books from the first edition through to 2016, after which a variety of different publishers have been involved.
Typical content
Meet Your Pokémon Pals!
The main characters in the current anime season are introduced. This section is called "Meet Your Pokémon Pals!" in most editions, with some exceptions.
Pokémon Profiles
Includes a listing of Pokémon with pictures and information. They are usually either taken from the National Pokédex order or a regional Pokédex, or are sometimes alphabetical. As a rule, the more Pokémon profiled in the Annual, the less room there is for information on each of them. In the 2007 and 2008 Annuals, only the Pokémon's type and Ability are listed.
Anime novelizations
All the Annuals contain adaptations from movies or anime episodes. The illustrations are taken directly from the anime.
Puzzles
Pokémon themed puzzles and activities, including quizzes, crosswords and mazes.
Board game
Most of the Annuals contain board games, usually based on current events in the anime.
List of Annuals
2001
(ISBN 1902836308)
The first official Pokémon Annual introduced the main human characters in the anime series, contained profiles on the first 150 Pokémon and featured novelizations of Pokémon, I Choose You!, Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village, Charmander - The Stray Pokémon and Here Comes the Squirtle Squad. It also contained various puzzles and games.
2002
(ISBN 1902836596)
This annual contained alongside the usual puzzles and games, profiles of all the Pokémon from Generations I and II excluding Mew, Raikou, Suicune and Celebi. It also included novelizations of Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, Electric Shock Showdown, Roll On, Pokémon (erroneously titled "Day of the Donphan") and Bye Bye Butterfree.
2003
(ISBN 1902836839)
The 2003 Pokémon Annual contained, among other things, a novelization of Mewtwo Strikes Back and a profile on Mew. The front cover depicts numerous Pokémon battling in a stadium.
2004
(ISBN 190432925X)
The first Generation III Annual included profiles of most of the Hoenn Pokémon, in alphabetical order, and novelizations of Pikachu and Pichu and Spell of the Unown: Entei. All the main characters from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire appear on the cover. This annual was also available with a lenticular version of the cover.
2005
(ISBN 1904329462)
This Annual contained profiles of all 200 Pokémon in the Hoenn Pokédex, including
their category, type(s), moves that they can learn (in order), evolutions, height and weight. It also includes novelizations of the first six Advanced Generation episodes. A Ruin with a View, There's no Place Like Hoenn and You Never Can Taillow are combined into one story, collectively entitled "There's No Place Like Hoenn", while Get the Show on the Road!, In the Knicker of Time! and A Poached Ego! are all novelized separately.
2006
(ISBN 1904329551)
Contained the same profiles as the previous Annual, and novelizations of Maxxed Out!, Pros and Con Artists, Game Winning Assist and Fight for the Meteorite!.
2007
(ISBN 1905302010)
Contained a listing of all (at the time) 384 Pokémon in National Pokédex order, plus bonus profiles of Jirachi and Deoxys in the back. Also included maps of Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, and novelizations of Clamperl of Wisdom!, The Relicanth Really Can!, The Evolutionary War! and Training Wrecks.
2008
Contained the same profiles as the previous Annual, minus Jirachi and Deoxys but also including profiles on some Generation IV Pokémon. Includes novelizations of Sweet Baby James, Strategy Tomorrow - Comedy Tonight!, Duels of the Jungle! and Home is Where the Start Is!.
2009
(ISBN 9781905302802)
The first fully Generation IV Annual. It contained profiles of all 151 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex, a bonus profile on Darkrai, and novelizations of Shapes of Things to Come!, Mutiny in the Bounty!, Cooking Up a Sweet Story! and All Dressed up with Somewhere to Go!.
2010
(ISBN 9781906918132)
Contains profiles of various Generation IV Pokémon, also has bonus pages with profiles and information about Shaymin's Sky Forme and Giratina's Origin Forme, and novelizations of Camping It Up!, Up Close And Personable!, Ghoul Daze!, and One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.
2011
(ISBN 9781906918835) Contains profiles of various Generation IV Pokémon, has novelizations of Dealing With Defensive Types!, Leading a Stray!, Steeling Peace of Mind!.
2012
(ISBN 9781907602641)
Contains profiles of various Generation V Pokémon and novelizations of A Sandile Gusher of Change!, The Battle Club And Tepig's Choice! and Snivy Plays Hard to Catch!
2013
(ISBN 9781907602498)
Contains profiles of various human characters appearing in Pokémon the Series: Black & White. It also contains information on each Generation V Pokémon. It has novelizations of the anime episodes Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!, Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym! and Ash Versus The Champion!.
2014
(ISBN 9781907602740) Contains profiles of various human characters appearing in Pokémon the Series: Black & White. It also contains information on each Generation V Pokémon. It has novelizations of the anime episodes Mission: Defeat Your Rival!, Lost at the League! and Strong Strategy Steals the Show!.
The annual also comes with a paper version of Ash's hat that can be cut out and worn.
2015
(ISBN 9781908152633)
Contains profiles of various human characters appearing in Pokémon the Series: XY and Generation I, II, III, IV, V and VI Pokémon as well as a novelization of A Blustery Santalune Gym Battle!. The word "standees" (concerning the free standees of the Pokémon Froakie, Fennekin and Chespin inside the annual) is misspelled on the front cover as "standess".
2016
(ISBN 9781910287170)
Contains profiles of various human characters appearing in Pokémon the Series: XY, as well as details on all Mega-Evolved Pokémon. It also contains novelizations of An Undersea Place to Call Home!, A Stealthy Challenge!, and Facing the Grand Design!.
2017
(ISBN 9780995495074)
This was the first annual to not be published by Pedigree Books Limited following the company's cessation of operations in 2016 and was released instead by Exeter based Little Brother Books. It contains novelizations of A Meeting of Two Journeys! and An Explosive Operation!. It also features an A to Z Pokédex of all Pokémon in alphabetical order at the end of the book as well as the usual quizzes, crosswords and games typical of previous editions.
2018
(ISBN 9781405288439)
This annual introduced the Alola region and human characters from Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, marking the transition to Generation VII. It contains novelizations of Alola to a New Adventure! and The Guardian's Challenge!, as well as an Alolan A-Z of Pokémon profiles and the usual collection of puzzles, quizzes and drawing activities. This was the first annual to be published by Egmont UK Limited.
2019
(ISBN 9781405291170)
This annual continued the Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon tie in with novelizations of A Dream Encounter! and Now You See Them, Now You Don't!. It also features a refreshed Alolan A-Z of Pokémon profiles and the usual games and puzzles.
2020
(ISBN 9781405294409)
This annual features novelizations of Guiding an Awakening! and Twirling with a Bang! with a refreshed Alolan A-Z as included in the previous two annuals. It introduces Gladion as Ash's rival with a full page profile and also includes various puzzles and games in the usual format.
2021
(ISBN 9781405297295)
This annual is the last one to follow Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon and also the last published by Egmont Books. It introduces Meltan and features novelizations of Show Me The Metal! and The One That Didn't Get Away!. It also contains an expanded Alolan A-Z with profiles on Pokémon from previous generations a variety of different games, quizzes and puzzles.
2022
(ISBN 9780755501113)
This annual introduces the Pokémon of the Galar region as explored by Ash and Goh in Pokémon Journeys: The Series. It features novelizations of Legend? Go! Friends? Go! and Settling the Scorbunny!. It also contains a Galar A-Z with profiles on a variety of Pokémon from all generations found in Galar and a wide selection of themed quizzes, games and puzzles. It was also the first annual to be published by Farshore, a division of HarperCollins.
2023
(ISBN 9780008507671)
This annual continued the Pokémon Journeys: The Series tie in with novelizations of Toughing It Out! and Gotta Catch a What?!. It also features a PokéDex A-Z with a selection of Pokémon profiles and a selection of activities, including for the first time in a Pokémon Annual, a recipe for "PokéBall Pops".
2024
(ISBN 9780008537142)
This annual features novelizations of A Pinch of This, a Pinch of That! and Searching for Chivalry! alongside a selection of themed puzzles, quizzes, cut-out posters and crafts, including "Make a Dugtrio" using stones, paint and a plant pot.
Other editions
New Character Special
(ISBN 9781902836546)
To tie in with the launch of Pokémon Gold and Silver and the entire franchise moving into Generation 2 with the airing of Pokémon: The Johto Journeys and various other merchandising lines, a New Character Special was published by Pedigree Books in the annual format in 2001. It features profiles for 29 new Pokémon as well as profiles for the entire first generation, with the exception of Mew. It also contains a novelization of A Sappy Ending entitled "Hail, Heracross!" and a variety of puzzles and games typical of the annual format. The inside covers feature maps of the Kanto and Johto regions.
Summer Special Edition
(ISBN 1904329136)
In addition to the regular Annuals, a Summer Special Edition was also published in 2002. It included a novelization of Pikachu's Vacation, Pokémon profiles of Raikou, Suicune and Celebi and the usual puzzles and games included in the regular annuals.
Trivia
Errors
- In the 2005 Annual, the pictures of Rhyhorn and Rhydon are reversed. This error was eventually corrected in the 2006 edition. However, the same error occurs again in the 2011 edition on page 33.
- In the 2011 Annual, on page 32 in Tentacool's information box, "Liquid Ooze" is misspelled as "Liquid Ooz".
- In the same book, "Magnet Pull" is written as "Magnetic Pull" in both Magnemite and Magneton's information boxes on page 33.
- On page 83, in Budew's information box, "Natural Cure" is misspelled "Nautural Cure".
- On page 85, "Battle Armor" is misspelled as "Battle Amour" in Skorupi's information box on page 85.
- In the 2014 Annual, the quiz on page 57 states Ash's Palpitoad is a Poison-type Pokémon.
- In the 2017 Annual, the front cover misspells "Activities" as "Activites".
- In the New Character Special, Sunkern's profile has Elekid's name.
|
This article is part of Project Merchandise, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all Pokémon toys, dolls, books, and collectible merchandise. |